Were nude photos of North Penn students shared online?

Students at a Lansdale high school met with administrators Monday, expressing concern about nude photos of female students that had been allegedly shared online.

Students at North Penn High School said nude or semi-nude photos that girls sent to boys were then uploaded onto the file-sharing site DropBox, and a link to the account was distributed among students.

Law enforcement officials confirmed they are investigating the claims. District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said her office was made aware of the photos in the past two weeks, and the investigation will involve forensic examination of computers and interviews with those involved.

After news of the images and police inquiry spread over the weekend, students had planned a walkout from school to show support for the victims. Instead, they met in the auditorium with Principal Burt Hynes.

Still, some were concerned that nothing would be done about the photos.

"Those pictures were supposed to be private," said an 18-year-old senior, who did not want to be named, in an interview after the meeting. "They did not know it would be posted online for everyone to see."

Said another 18-year-old female student: "A lot of girls just feel humiliated and vulnerable and that their privacy was broken."

School officials said they are cooperating with police.

"There won't be any instant answers to the questions that we may have," Hynes said. "I continue to urge anyone with knowledge that would contribute to the investigation of such activity to directly contact his or her local police department."

In a message posted on the school's website, North Penn Superintendent said "the alleged online sharing of inappropriate photos and videos amongst some of our North Penn High School students is of great concern."

Ferman declined to share details of the investigation but said the consequences "can be extraordinary" when teenagers share nude photos; the act is a felony-level offense.

"This is a topic that has been the subject of extensive discussion in recent years," she said. "We see teenagers, often young adults, who really live their lives online and they have no sense of boundaries and discretion when it comes to what they will document and share."